[kwlusa]

Hi everybody..I'm Keith..recently diagnosed as a type 1. No family history. I have a suspicion mine is related to occasional Prednisone use in the past..and I've found articles online that cover the connection.

When I was first diagnosed I was in the 250-500 range. I was put on Levemir and took 12 units at bed time. Also occasionally take a quick acting insulin at meal times. My sugar dropped like a rock..staying usually in the 100-150 range. On a followup vist a few months later my endo told me my A1C was 7.5 and gave me high grades. I was surprised that the A1C was that good because I would often hit 250-300, so I wasn't seeing a clear corrolation between the two methods of measurement.

During the past month, I've had many readings of 300-500 even while taking 28 units of Levemir so it seems like things have changed which I gather is expected. i.e. eventually more beta cells are destroyed. Some days I wake up at 300-400..take a quick acting shot or two..drop to 50..take a half spoon of sugar and a half can of soda..shoot back up tp 300-400..take more insulin drop to 60..etc etc.

Anyway my point is(yes I do have one) I suspect I've lost more or all beta cells. I have an appointment at the endo next month and I'll probably find out. I had hoped the honeymoon would have lasted longer. How long did yours last?

Terrific resource this is. I've read a ton on the subject but hearing from others with type 1 is very valuable to me.

Keith

[xMenace]

Welcome Keith,

Are you not taking any bolus insulin like Humalog or Novalog? Type 1's do not thrive on a basal insulin only. By not taking any I'm guessing either you are still honey-mooning or you are not a type 1.

Honeymoons can last years and they can ebb and wane.

[Subby]

Hi Keith. Funny you should ask that, there is a very simiar recent thread:

http://www.diabetesforums.com/forum/...e-1-s-how.html

One thing I find a bit odd about your story (no reflection on you) is the lack of setting up a proper intensive therapy, ie, the doctors showing you how to bolus with short acting for each and every meal, and how. I understand you've been on honeymoon but it sounds like taking short acting more thoroughly should have been on the books for a while now.

As you will definitively be moving towards this to get your BG's under control, I highly recommend you make sure you adopt a carb counting method, where each time you eat, you could the carbs, and adjust your dose to suit the carbs accordingly (using on an equation, the insulin to carb ratio, based on how many carbs one unit of insulin will be sufficient for).

I'd hope that in this day and age your endo will do this anyway, but you never know - you might have more outdated ways of dosaging presented to you. You'll find carb counting / using I:C is likely to afford you the best results. (And it's hardly rocket science, despite the insistence of some in the medical fraternity for long drawn out processes like the DAFNE courses. As an intelligent person you would pick up the theory and practicalities quickly).

[kwlusa]

Thank you Michael..

Yes I do take Novolog..since I don't eat breakfast I only use it at dinner time..at least initially..now I use it anytime I check my sugar and it's high..say over 180. I've also been raising the Levemir units. But it's been a battle that I don't expect will get better.

Thanks again,

Keith

[cheric]

You also need to be careful not to overcorrect, which is easy to do when you're low! I know the feeling! All you want to do is eat and drink and feel better ASAP! Maybe try just taking the spoonful of sugar or just the half can of coke? I find that a small glass of orange juice works the best and fastest for me. You might also need to lower the dose you take when your levels shoot up. They are obviously dropping too fast and too low which means too much insulin.

Everyone's honeymoon stages are different. There is no way to tell how long yours will last. Your body will change, and you will have to change with it.

[kwlusa]

Hey Subby-

Yes I do count carbs/sugar..I think my ratio is 1 unit for every 10 gms of carb/sugar. I possibly have been laxed about using the Novolog in the past. Lately I use it a lot.

I did find the other forum after posting(I hate when that happens). Seems the average honeymoon is 6 months. The length of mine almost to the day(provided I'm correct and the honeymoon is over).

Thanks for the info..greatly appreciate the response.

Keith

[kwlusa]

Hello Cheric-

Yes I need to fine tune and have more patience. Amazes me how little sugar it takes to go from 50 to 300.

Thanks for the response,

Keith<----amature diabetic

[Subby]

Originally Posted by kwlusa

Hey Subby-

Yes I do count carbs/sugar..I think my ratio is 1 unit for every 10 gms of carb/sugar. I possibly have been laxed about using the Novolog in the past. Lately I use it a lot.

Ahh, well you are in a strong position. Once it becomes clearer to you that every time carbs pass your lips it will spike you without a correct dose of insulin (unless of course, correcting for a low... in a controlled manner), you will get the hang of doing it every single time. (I'd say it's about now that this realisation is "sinking" in, eh?)

The motivation usually isn't too hard: missing a meal and you usually pay quite dearly with high BG's and feeling sick. It becomes second nature soon enough to do it.

When you are bolusing for each meal and using your I:C ratio, if problems persist the first port of call is to adjust the I:C ratio, for example you might need to go to 1:8. This is quite possible you'll need to adjust again. Of course go through your doctor for the time being - when you are more confident you will be able to make adjustments for yourself, if you wish.

Best of luck with things.

[RedRD]

Keith -

Some of us don't even have a honeymoon after diagnosis. I didn't, but have heard that it sometimes is more difficult to get things under control d/t not knowing what you're body might respond with. I suspect that is what you're dealing with.

Don't be discouraged - your numbers aren't perfect, but look good for a new dx. Some old-timers would be happier with your A1C than their own...

Hang in there!!!

[kwlusa]

Subby-

Ya sounds like the Novolog ratio needs tweeking.

Thanks Mate!

Keith

[kwlusa]

Thanks for the well wishes RED..
A healthy 2009 to you.....

Keith

[mazea]

My honeymoon started to end a few months ago a bit as my Levemir doubled from 3 to 6 units a day. It's took a few days of adjusting and I felt comfortable adjusting insulin to suit my overnight and 2 hour readings. I learnt from my honeymoon ending that it is good to be cautious about the adjustments and do it slowly. Sorry to here that your honeymoon ended. Hopefully it won't take long to sort it out.

[kwlusa]

Thanks Mazea-You had a platefull for 32 years young. If everyone here has done it I just need to be more patient.

Take care,

Keith